Friday, February 8, 2013

First Grade Fun

For several months Annabelle and I just stuck to the basics (reading, Math, Spelling, Bible). The beginning of January we dove back into Sonlight and our geography fun. The last 2 weeks we added Astronomy back into the mix. Finally this last week we came back to our 'full' load and added our first week of Music and Art Appreciation from Harmony Fine Arts Academy. We've been having such a good time!

While finishing up our S. American studies we made Animalitos. These are usually woven on looms...we made ours with paper. :)

We moved into Europe. We discussed some history. Annabelle finds the clothing particularly interesting. We made 'ruffs' which people used to wear around their necks (sometimes they were so big they needed extra long spoons to reach their mouths!)

In astronomy we picked up where we left of with the sun and learned about eclipses. This was a fun little activity we did to learn what an eclipse is.

We also watched this YouTube video that she really enjoyed and wanted to watch several times that week (which I found surprising. lol)

We also did the chapter on Mercury. This activity was used to demonstrate how craters on the surface of a planet are formed. She used different sized 'asteroids'....the clementine was the biggest one....and made a mess. :)

This is an extra book that we read. I picked up this series of planet books at a preschool's going out of business sale for ten cents a book. They are really colorful and simple.

Our first week of Music Appreciation our composer is Antonio Vivaldi. We used this site to listen to the Spring section of his Four Seasons piece. I really like the site because it tells you what to think about during each movement, helpful when trying to explain it to a first grader. We will listen to one movement for the next few weeks.

In Art Appreciation we started learning about Renoir. Annabelle did a picture study of the Girl With a Watering Can.

We also used the Oxford First Book of Art and looked at the section of Mother and Child art pieces. In particular we looked at The Child's Bath by Mary Cassatt. Afterward we did the suggested activity. Annabelle painted a splashy watery picture.....

.....then we put a picture in of her as a baby splashing in the bath.

Such a fun filled week with tons of learning. So glad that we are finally in the groove and getting to do all the basics and the icing stuff too! Happy blogging!

7 comments:

Hi! I LOVE your blog! I had a question about the Winter Promise program you used last year and wondered if I could email you privately? My email address is klrapin@gmail.com, if you could email me that would be great!!

I just discovered your blog and I know you are incredibly busy but I cannot wait until you have the time to post your trays again. I am beginning a letter of week curriculum with my 3 year old and am using your blog for much of my inspiration. Again, just wanted to write to let you know I can't wait for you to regularly start blogging again (when time permits)!

Hello Jess! I've written a book about a Christmas project for families and I'd like to include a craft I found on Pinterest that I believe traces back to you. It's a parmesan bottle with a frog face made from the green lid. Is that your original idea? I'll probably make some alterations, but I want to make sure first that it is OK with you, that I use the idea. I'm happy to credit your site, if you'd like. Let me know. Thank you!Marianne Ball ballpark001@gmail.com

About Me

I am blessed to be a stay at home mom to four beautiful children ages 6, 5, almost 4, and 6 month old. I love my 'job' and even though it can get kind of crazy at times with an infant, 2 Pre-Kers, and a 1st grader I wouldn't change it.
I love to homeschool my kids, and right now my entire focus is concentrated into that.
I love God, and I love life and have a sense of humor that helps me get through it all. I hope that what I write reflects that. Enjoy!